Influence of different environmental factors on milk yield and fertility of holstein cows reared in afyonkarahisar province

This study was carried out to exhibit the influence of different environmental factors including the seasonal effects on milk yield and fertility of Holstein Cows reared in Afyonkarahisar, to determine the degree of success in terms of suitability of raising this breed with its mentioned characteristics and lighten the Holstein breeding for the region. The effects of enterprise, lactation turn, calving season, age and year on milk production parameters such as milk yield, lactation length and fertility parameters such as service period, calving interval, gestation length, insemination number per conception were examinedThe milk yield and fertility data of 175 lactating Holstein cows born in 2003 belonging to 3 big enterprises located in Bolvadin district and registered to Afyonkarahisar Holstein Cattle Breeders Union were used as study material of this research.The results regarding the average values of 305 days milk yield, lactation length, dry period, age at first conception, service period, calving interval, gestation length and insemination number per conception were 6884,111 ± 162,880 kg, 358,571 ± 9,053 days, 66,69 ± 2,43 days, 17,13 ± 0,22 months, 26,17 ± 0,22 months, 146,519 ± 10,030 days, 424,804 ± 9,898 days, 274,026 ± 0,630 days and 1,317 ± 0,089 respectivelyThe effect of enterprise groups and calving age on 305 days milk yield was found significant (P<0.05) while the effects of lactation turn, calving season, age and year were insignificantThe differences between the enterprise groups were significant in term of service period (P<0.05), while the differences regarding enterprise, lactation turn, calving age and year averages were insignificantThe differences between the seasonal group means were significant (P<0.05) while the effect of enterprise, lactation turn, calving age and year was insignificant. Significant differences were determined in enterprise, lactation turn, calving age and year groups in term of insemination per conception number (P<0.05), but the differences for calving season were insignificantConsequently, it was observed that different environmental factors had significant effects on most of the examined milk and fertility parameters. However, the divergence in the values of fertility from optimum values made us think about the problems in herd management. As a result, Afyonkarahisar Province was found to be suitable for Holstein breeding. In addition, it was thought that management related problems could be solved by informing the breeders about herd management issues. Hence, animal breeding and production of the region could proceed and get better.Key Words: Afyonkarahisar, Environmental Factors, Fertility, Holstein, Milk Yield